80 A HAND-BOOK OF THE MANAGEMENT OF ANIMALS 



on the back and about the neck. Those brought up in captivity 

 are generally pale coloured. Albino jackals have on several occasions 

 been received. A jackal is subject to change of colour at different 

 seasons of the year. 



Hah. — India, Ceylon, Burmah, extending through South-West Asia 

 to the Caucasus, and found in South-Eastern Europe in Greece and 

 Turkey, and as far west as Dalmatia, also throughout ; Northern Africa. 

 Very common in Bengal, infesting jungles, thickets, and open countries, 

 and found in hamlets as well as in popular cities like Calcutta. Jackals 

 live in a wild state within the garden, and not unfrequently commit 

 depredations amongst the deer and antelopes. 



Length of life in captivity. 

 A specimen obtained in 1876 is still alive. 

 Treatment in health. 



Homing. — Although jackals are cunning and mischievous animals, 

 in captivity they have been generally found to behave well, and they 

 can, therefore, be kept in stout wire cages, but the floor ought to be 

 invariably made of planks or bricks, as they are somewhat addicted to 

 burrowing. 



Food.— Beef forms their ordinary food, but they eat fruits and 

 bread as well, and thrive much better on a mixed diet than solely 

 on meat. 



Breeding.-- Although jackals have never bred in captivity, they 

 breed freely within the garden in a wild state. The number of young 

 in a litter is from four to six, and during May and June a litter may 

 be found in almost every drain of the garden and the adjacent 

 grounds. 



Nothing particular is known of their diseases in captivity. 



Habits of a Jackal. 



The habits of jackals are well known and therefore very little need 

 be said. They are shy and suspicious ; at least they have never been 

 known to become tame in this garden. 



(85) THE BLACK-BACKED JACKAL. 



(CANIS MESOMELAS— Schreb.) 



More thick-set in build than the Indian jackal : saddle of the back 

 broad ; fur thick. Colour brownish grey ; a good deal of black on the 

 back. Changes of colour occur at different seasons of the year. 



Hab. — South Africa. 



(86) THE SIDE-STEIPED JACKAL. 



(CANIS LATERALIS— Sclater.) 



Description. — This animal is " distinguished from every described 

 species of the genus by the black and white stripe extending along the 

 flanks, and the very long black tail with a distinct white termination." 



